North Scottsdale
The read
North Scottsdale
Desert Mountain is the Valley's most-storied luxury golf community — 8,000 acres of high-Sonoran preserve in the foothills above Carefree, anchored by seven Jack Nicklaus Signature golf courses and a member roster that has historically included names you'd recognize from family-office and corporate-philanthropy circles.
The community broke ground in 1986 with the original Renegade course, then expanded over four decades into the seven-course portfolio that defines it today: Renegade, Cochise, Geronimo, Apache, Chiricahua, Outlaw, and the par-54 Seven. The clubhouse, member roster, and seven separately-routed courses operate as a single private club — there is no public play, ever.
Buyers come for the golf. They stay for the privacy and the preserve.
Most Desert Mountain residents skew toward seasonal — primary residences elsewhere, with the Desert Mountain home as the October-through-April base. Full-year residents are a growing share but still a minority. The community is quiet by design.
Daily life centers on the club. Members tee off in the morning, lunch in one of the clubhouses, return for spa or fitness in the afternoon. Off-property, Carefree and Cave Creek (15 minutes south) carry day-to-day retail — art galleries, a Saturday farmer's market, casual dining. Scottsdale Quarter and Kierland Commons (30 minutes south) handle bigger retail.
Seven courses, one club
Renegade, Cochise, Geronimo, Apache, Chiricahua, Outlaw, and the par-54 Seven. Each course routed across distinct terrain — boulder fields, ironwood washes, ridgeline tees — but all serving the same member roster. Unlimited play across the portfolio is the single most-coveted golf membership in the Valley.
7
Courses
Nicklaus
Designer
126
Holes
3,200ft
Avg elevation
Access & Lifestyle
Air Travel
Scottsdale AirportKSDL
Private
25 min
Phoenix Sky HarborPHX
International
50 min
Key Distances
Quality of Life
12
Walk Score
85%
Open Space
299 days
Avg Sunshine
A
School Rating
Education
Black Mountain Elementary
Cave Creek Unified
Sonoran Trails Middle
Cave Creek Unified
Cactus Shadows High
A-rated
Notre Dame Preparatory
25 min south
BASIS Scottsdale
30 min south
Notable Dining
Sonoran Six
Club dining (member)
Cartwright's
New American (Cave Creek)
Tonto Bar & Grill
Southwestern
Hidden Track Bottle Shop
Wine bar
Geographic Footprint
Available Properties
Courtesy of Fathom Realty Elite
Under Contract
Courtesy of HomeSmartMetro Context
Read the latest market read — Week of June 1-7, 2026Market data
Trailing 12 months · North Scottsdale luxury residential
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Median Sale
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Active Listings
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